Uefa look certain to come down hard on Celtic for defying a ban on political statements in games.
Not that it looks like Celtic fans gave a shit, mind.
Hoops supported were repeatedly warned about waving Palestinian flags in the Champions League game against Hapoel Beer Sheva. Police even threatened fans with arrest over the matter, in the run up to the first-leg play-off.
But not even that could stop the Glasgow side’s show of solidarity with the Palestinian state during the game at Parkhead which ended 5-2.
Hundreds of fans were pictured holding up the nation’s flag during the game.
https://twitter.com/mephobia8/status/766020109005619200
Uefa explicitly bans fans from making political expressions and the waving of Palestinian flags could be viewed as extremely provocative, given the opponents.
The Scottish club will now face a rap by the football governing body, which will almost definitely include a fine and even stand closures for games.
It’s not the first time that Celtic fans have incurred the wrath of Uefa. This would be the ninth time in five years the Scottish champions have fallen foul of the rules, according to the Daily Record.
Everything from lighting of flares, illicit banners and chanting to inappropriate fan behaviour has cost the club more than £107,000.
But this was the reaction on Twitter…
https://twitter.com/2Ferdi7/status/766019857846591488
https://twitter.com/Indijanaa/status/766018439332913153
I don't really get why folk (i.e Rangers fans) are bothered if Celtic fans want to wave Palestinian flags.
— Utah (@JohnnyUtah100) August 17, 2016
Nice to see so many Palestinian flags at Parkhead & a Celtic win. Scottish football needs them in the group stages. #FreePalestine
— Majid Haq (@MajidHaq) August 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/jonnoholywood70/status/766012684726898689
https://twitter.com/leo_tague/status/766042154833772545
https://twitter.com/AN4S__/status/766040364381798401
Idiotic pic.twitter.com/qKO1szKPBd
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) August 17, 2016
Idiotic of course being the word to describe a person unaware that Celtic wave #PAL flags at every home game… https://t.co/yaBNiUrIkN
— George Clarke (@GLR_Clarke) August 17, 2016
Celtic were playing a team from a contrived nation which has brutally oppressed Palestine. Their fans were right to show Palestinian flags!.
— Bill Cruickshank (@BjCruickshank) August 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/Lazer2k/status/766037029197058048
https://twitter.com/hearts_chat/status/766036594944053248
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